This Week at St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo
Stay informed about what's happening at St. Mary's by subscribing to our weekly newsletter...
Upcoming Calendar
For your safety, the church building, preschool and office are closed during the pandemic. All services are being live-streamed on Facebook (you do not need a Facebook account to participate).

Friday, May 29
5pm - Evening Prayer

Saturday, May 30
9pm - Compline

Pentecost Sunday, May 31
10am - Holy Eucharist

Monday, June 1
5pm - Evening Prayer

Tuesday, June 2
10am - Morning Prayer

Wednesday, June 3
5pm - Evening Prayer

Thursday, June 4
10am - Morning Prayer
From the Rector
Dear Parishioners and Friends,

“Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire...” These are the opening words to the ancient hymn  Veni Creator Spiritus  (Hymnal 1982: 503 & 504). It dates to the 9th century, and is used to this day as the Church’s great invocation of the Holy Spirit. Most commonly heard at ordinations, it can be used at any time to welcome the third person of the Trinity into our midst.

This is important to note because we are preparing to celebrate the great feast of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church: the Day of Pentecost. This is the day when shortly after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the disciples and Mary the mother of Jesus were gathered together in a room in Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Tongues of fire rested on their heads, and this is the day when Jesus’ disciples became his apostles.

From that point on, they went forth into all the known world at great personal peril to spread the Gospel of Christ—St Thomas made it all the way to India! Despite persecutions and hardships, the nascent Church began to grow and spread, eventually taking its place as one of the world’s great religions.

It is this same Holy Spirit that fills our hearts with God’s love, which inspires our wills to do his work, which strengthens our hands to help, and which makes eloquent our witness to Jesus Christ. As the prayer book says in one of the Eucharistic dismissals, “Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Alleluia. Alleluia.”

Successful Clothing Drive
Thank you to everyone who so generously donated kid's clothes during our clothing drive last weekend! We had a tremendous response and will be able to help many families in need. After a waiting period, the clothes were sorted and after another waiting period, donations will be arranged. If you know of a Tuxedo family in need please email our outreach program at [email protected] or call Sue, Outreach Chair, directly at (845) 351-3473.

In partnership with local civic organizations, St. Mary's Outreach is making sure that no one is forgotten in this time of great crisis and self-isolation.  Here is the link  that explains how we are helping the Tuxedo community and how to get help.
Memorial Day
In commemoration of Memorial Day, we held a special evening prayer service at St. Mary's and participated virtually in the town ceremonies , both of which may be viewed on our Facebook page.

O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wi-Fi Needed for the Church
We’ve learned a lot in the last two and a half months about video and sound recording, and broadcasting. A blooper reel will be forthcoming! Taking our worship online literally overnight has been rewarding as well as challenging.

One of the lessons that has been learned in the pandemic throughout the Church is that online worship will be a part of our new reality. Down the road a ways, I envision the installation of proper camera equipment, but for now we are most in need of wi-fi. This will greatly enhance the quality of our streaming service and cut down on annoying “technical issues."

This is now a critical need and not simply something on the “nice to have” list. The bids we received for a comprehensive system ranged from $5,000 to $10,000. We will work very hard to keep the total below the $5,000 amount. Already a parishioner has pledged $500. Will you join her and make a donation to help usher St. Mary’s into the future?

Thank you and God bless!
Plan for Resuming Public Worship
Since our decision to cease public worship as of March 15, and the Bishop’s subsequent mandate, we have all been working hard to be innovative in worship and effective in outreach. I am very proud of everyone’s efforts in showing that though the doors are closed, the church is open.

Still, it has been a difficult sacrifice not to gather together in God’s name, and the question on everyone’s minds has been, “How long, O Lord?” I am happy to report that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, albeit a rightly cautious one.

The Bishop of New York has issued guidelines to the churches on the resumption of public worship , as well as other church operations and group meetings. He is very clear and thoughtful in this godly directive, and we will be following his lead in all things.

Beginning on July 1, groups of no more than ten may gather. This number may change between now and then depending on the governor’s directives. You can read much more detail in the document itself , and I will be working closely with the wardens and staff to facilitate a smooth transition back to in-person worship. We will keep you up to date via the newsletter as things unfold. Until then, please continue to join us for our weekday and Sunday services online.

Father Rick
The Light of Christ
A sanctuary lamp has been hung in the church directly above the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is kept in reserve. The perpetual light of the lamp reminds us that Jesus is sacramentally present, and calls us to greater reverence for his Body as well as to prayer in his presence.

The glass vigil candles that fit inside the lamp can be given in memory of a loved one, as a petition for some need, or in thanksgiving for answered prayer. Each light burns for an entire week, and the cost is $20. With your donation, please leave a note describing your prayer's intention as well as the week you would like the light to burn. You may donate online or mail a check to St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo, P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.

This week, the sanctuary lamp is given by Harrison Bush in loving memory of Gretel Bush (1925-2019) .
How to contact us...
Website: www.stmtux.org
Office: 845.351.5122
PreSchool: 845.351.2389
Physical Address: 10 Fox Hill Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987